Strep Throat: Day 4

[newbie76]

My throat is killing me and my GP 2 days ago reckoned it's strep throat. He took a swab but the results will take a few days to come back.

Meanwhile he put me on antibiotics (Penicillin 500mg 4 times/day).

My temperature in the evening goes up to about 38, and I cannot eat any solid food because it hurts swallowing, so I am having soups and warm milk with honey all the time.

Since I was put on antibiotics on Monday morning and today it's Wednesday, shouldn't I see a change in my symptoms already?

Could it be something other than strep throat? Is there an STI with similar symptoms?

The Wiki pic for Strep Throat looks pretty much like my throat now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strep_throat

Meanwhile I am taking Paracetamol and doing gargles with warm water and salt, mouthwash, etc.

[Miss Philicia]

I used to get strep throat sorta often when I was younger, even through my 20's -- it's a very sucky illness for sure.  It wasn't unusual for anti-biotics to take a little longer than two days for me to feel better, but not much longer.

Hope you feel better soon.

[denb45]

I used to get strep throat sorta often when I was younger, even through my 20's -- it's a very sucky illness for sure.  It wasn't unusual for anti-biotics to take a little longer than two days for me to feel better, but not much longer.

Hope you feel better soon.

Got it for the very 1st time last yr. the doctors still don't know who I got it, but a round a antibiotics for 10 days cleared it right up  

[Ann]

Hey Newbie, sorry to hear you're not feeling well.

Gonorrhea and/or chlamydia can infect your throat and they will sometimes cause a sore throat, but often they don't really produce noticeable oral symptoms. If your throat doesn't feel better within the next day or so, you might want to ask to be swabbed for both of these infections. If either one of these are responsible, you'll need a different antibiotic.

Hope you feel better soon and that it's just strep.

[newbie76]

Thank you all for your kind replies.

I think I feel slightly better tonight: throat still hurts and looks gross, but at least I don't have fever tonight which is a welcome relief!

Today I bought a bottle of Corsodyl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsodyl which is probably marketed under a different name in the US, and it seemed to have helped disinfecting the area by doing 4-5 gargles a day.

[tash08]

I had strep throat in 2005. Actually Ibuprofen 400mg every 6-8 hours helped me better with my symptoms than acetaminophen ever did, plus some Maximum strength cough drops with menthol. Hope you feel better soon.

[tednlou2]

Glad to hear you're feeling a little better.  Hopefully, tomorrow, you'll feel even better.

[newbie76]

Thank you all once again.

I thought I was starting to feel a bit better yesterday, but the fever was back last night and my throat is still as gross and painful as ever preventing me to eat any solid food...

I went back to my doctor this morning but he is still waiting the results of my swabs (should be in later today). He said that if his diagnosis of Strep Throat is confirmed we should stick to Penicillin VK, but if it turns out to be a different infection, he will switch me to Co-Amoxiclav (Amoxycillin-clavulanate in the US).

I am really fed up  of being bed bound and unable to eat proper food! 

[hope_for_a_cure]

That sore throat thing is getting old I am sure.  Try to hang in there as best you can.  I use a temporary relief solution of yeast... yep a spoon full of yeast for baking bread to stop sore throat pain instantly.  Its temporary but does work in most scenarios.  It may be something you want to try and its not costly at all. 

Keep everybody posted... ok.

Best !

[newbie76]

Thank you HFAC, I don't have any yeast at all, but I have tried just about anything to cure this so yeast doesn't sound too far fetched right now! Lol

The doctor just called me and the lab confirmed it's Strep Throat A, however they still did not send back the sensitivity, but he said that Strep Throat responds to Penicillin 99% of the time so to stick taking it.

In fact he told me to take 4 more a day for the next 2 days, so that's 12 x 250mg of Penicillin VK per day!  

[denb45]

In fact he told me to take 4 more a day for the next 2 days, so that's 12 x 250mg of Penicillin VK per day!  

Yeah, that's the standard treatment for it  I should have took the 10 day shot of Penicillin/biicillin those horse pills just tore-up my poor stomach and I already have GI-problems........feel better, as I sure you will 

[jackfrost]

I feel your pain man, strep throat is not fun, I have a history with it. I had Strep throat back in January and have it again right now. He prescribed me these pills that I have to take 4 times a day for 14 days.

Hope your feeling better.